President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to meet in the coming days, as efforts intensify to bring an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump, who has recently voiced strong frustration with Moscow, is pushing for a ceasefire and has threatened fresh sanctions if no progress is made.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking with European leaders on Thursday, stressed the importance of Europe being directly involved in any peace negotiations. European governments are seen as more sympathetic to Kyiv’s position, especially given Trump’s earlier criticisms of Ukraine’s leadership.
Trump has set a deadline for Friday, warning of new sanctions on Russia and its trading partners if an agreement to halt the war isn’t reached. “It’s going to be up to him,” Trump said when asked if the deadline for a ceasefire still stood. “We’re going to see what he has to say.”
In the lead-up to the deadline, Trump raised tariffs on India for importing Russian oil and signalled that similar measures could be imposed on China, another major buyer of Russian energy. It’s unclear whether more steps will be announced once the deadline passes.
A senior Russian official confirmed that both sides had agreed to hold a Trump-Putin summit “in the coming days.” The announcement followed a three-hour meeting in Moscow between Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Putin.
Putin suggested the United Arab Emirates as a suitable venue for the meeting, although no final decision on the location has been publicly disclosed.
This would be the first in-person summit between American and Russian leaders since Putin met with Joe Biden in Geneva in 2021.
The war in Ukraine began in February 2022, with Russia citing national security concerns. Ukraine and its allies have consistently described the invasion as an illegal occupation and an attempt to seize territory by force.
Trump has taken a more flexible approach to Russia than his predecessor, pushing for a negotiated end to the conflict while oscillating between admiration for Putin and sharp criticism.
Financial markets responded positively to the news of the potential summit. Russia’s MOEX stock index rose by up to 5%, hitting a two-month high. The ruble also gained ground against both the U.S. dollar and the Chinese yuan. Analysts suggested that investors see the meeting as a potential step toward stabilising global tensions.
A senior U.S. official indicated that the Trump-Putin summit could happen as early as next week. Reports also suggest that Trump informed European leaders of his intention to follow the meeting with a potential trilateral involving Putin and Zelenskiy.
Ukrainian and European leaders remain concerned that Trump, who has expressed sympathy for some of Russia’s demands, could pressure Kyiv into accepting a peace deal unfavourable to Ukraine. Sources familiar with recent talks say Witkoff participated in a call between Trump, Zelenskyy, and European leaders and shared a list of proposals that Moscow might be open to.
Zelenskyy later spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, underscoring that Europe must have a role in the negotiations.
“This war is taking place in Europe. Ukraine is part of Europe and already engaged in EU accession talks. Europe must be a full participant in the peace process,” Zelenskyy said on social media.
He called for a “dignified peace” that ensures long-term security across the continent. However, he noted that Russia had not yet signalled any real willingness to agree to a ceasefire.
Mykola Bielieskov, an analyst at Ukraine’s National Institute for Strategic Studies, criticised the plan to hold a summit with Putin, saying it gives Russia legitimacy without requiring any real concessions. He warned that Moscow could exploit the meeting to appear open to diplomacy while continuing its war strategy.
Zelenskyy confirmed that both bilateral and trilateral meeting formats had been discussed with Trump. “Ukraine is not afraid of dialogue. We expect the same courage from the Russian side,” he said.
Russian officials said that the idea of a three-way summit involving Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy was raised by the American side, but Moscow did not respond directly to the suggestion. Putin stated that he is open to speaking with Zelenskyy in principle, but that the conditions for such a meeting are not currently in place.
Trump clarified that his meeting with Putin is not contingent on whether the Russian president agrees to meet with Zelenskiy.
Relations between the U.S. and Russia, which had deteriorated sharply under the previous administration, have shown signs of thawing under Trump, with discussions of renewed commercial ties.
Following the Moscow talks, a prominent Russian political commentator said Putin had “successfully drawn Trump into extended negotiations,” portraying it as a diplomatic win for Moscow.
Meanwhile, public opinion in Ukraine remains skeptical. “I don’t expect anything positive,” said Mykhailo Kryshtal, a 55-year-old Kyiv resident. “Putin has plenty of people willing to die for his ideas. These are just more games.”
